Its name simply refers to the nine tails it has. ''Kyūkon'' can be taken to mean 旧恨, old grudge, although it is worth noting that the first syllable<!-- first syllable, but first two morae--> spells out 九 ''kyū'', nine.

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Its name simply refers to the nine tails it has. ''Kyūkon'' can be taken to mean 旧恨, old grudge, although it is worth noting that the first syllable<!-- first syllable, but first two morae--> spells out 九 ''kyū'', nine and ''kon'' from the Japanese onomatopoeia ''konkon'' - the sound that foxes make.

Ninetales, like {{p|Vulpix}}, are based on foxes. However, in Japan there are certain legends concerning foxes, or ''[[wp:kitsune|kitsune]]'', as they are known there. One such legend which relates to Ninetales the most is how many-tailed foxes can breathe fire, create illusions, and have extremely long lifespans. After living a long time, these creatures take on spirit forms, which may be the reason why these two related [[Pokémon]] can learn {{t|Ghost}}-type moves.

Ninetales, like {{p|Vulpix}}, are based on foxes. However, in Japan there are certain legends concerning foxes, or ''[[wp:kitsune|kitsune]]'', as they are known there. One such legend which relates to Ninetales the most is how many-tailed foxes can breathe fire, create illusions, and have extremely long lifespans. After living a long time, these creatures take on spirit forms, which may be the reason why these two related [[Pokémon]] can learn {{t|Ghost}}-type moves.

Name origin

Its name simply refers to the nine tails it has. Kyūkon can be taken to mean 旧恨, old grudge, although it is worth noting that the first syllable spells out 九 kyū, nine and kon from the Japanese onomatopoeia konkon - the sound that foxes make.

Ninetales, like Vulpix, are based on foxes. However, in Japan there are certain legends concerning foxes, or kitsune, as they are known there. One such legend which relates to Ninetales the most is how many-tailed foxes can breathe fire, create illusions, and have extremely long lifespans. After living a long time, these creatures take on spirit forms, which may be the reason why these two related Pokémon can learn Ghost-type moves.

In particular, Ninetales is based on the 九尾の狐, the nine-tailed fox, which is a fox of advanced age whose fur has turned silver-gold. It is said to have the power of infinite vision.